{{warningbox| Camden suffers from a very high crime rate. While the Delaware River waterfront area is perfectly safe during the day, visitors should exercise caution when visiting other neighborhoods, particularly at night. Walking around Camden at night is not advised.}}

'''Camden''' is a city in [[Camden County (New Jersey)|Camden County]], [[New Jersey]]. Located just across the Delaware River from [[Philadelphia]], Camden is a former industrial boom-town that has fallen onto hard times. Decades of disinvestment and government mismanagement have contributed to Camden's sky-high crime rate, and many of the city's neighborhoods are hotbeds of gang- and drug-related violence. However, the government has, in recent years, begun developing the Delaware River waterfront, which is now a popular and well-traveled tourist destination offering grand views of the Philadelphia skyline and a multitude of activities for adults and children alike. Headlines about violence and crime in Camden may dissuade many tourists to the Philadelphia area from visiting, but a one-day trip to the waterfront may be well-worth the trip.

'''Camden''' is a city in [[Camden County (New Jersey)|Camden County]], [[New Jersey]]. Located just across the Delaware River from [[Philadelphia]], Camden is a former industrial boom-town that has fallen onto hard times. Decades of disinvestment and government mismanagement have contributed to Camden's sky-high crime rate, and many of the city's neighborhoods are hotbeds of gang- and drug-related violence. However, the government has, in recent years, begun developing the Delaware River waterfront, which is now a popular and well-traveled tourist destination offering grand views of the Philadelphia skyline and a multitude of activities for adults and children alike. Headlines about violence and crime in Camden may dissuade many tourists to the Philadelphia area from visiting, but a one-day trip to the waterfront may be well-worth the trip.

Revision as of 00:11, 13 November 2009

Camden is a city in Camden County, New Jersey. Located just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Camden is a former industrial boom-town that has fallen onto hard times. Decades of disinvestment and government mismanagement have contributed to Camden's sky-high crime rate, and many of the city's neighborhoods are hotbeds of gang- and drug-related violence. However, the government has, in recent years, begun developing the Delaware River waterfront, which is now a popular and well-traveled tourist destination offering grand views of the Philadelphia skyline and a multitude of activities for adults and children alike. Headlines about violence and crime in Camden may dissuade many tourists to the Philadelphia area from visiting, but a one-day trip to the waterfront may be well-worth the trip.

Contents

Get in

By bus

Some Greyhound buses that traverse the New York City-Philadelphia corridor make a stop in downtown Camden at the Walter Rand Transportation Center. From there, you can hop on the River LINE light rail, which will take you directly to the waterfront area.

By car

From Philadelphia, take the Ben Franklin Bridge or Walt Whitman Bridge to New Jersey. Camden is directly across from Philadelphia.

From New York and Northern New Jersey, take the Turnpike to Route 73 North (Exit 4). Take I-295 South to Exit 26. Follow the signs for I-676 and Camden.

From Delaware, take the Delaware Memorial Bridge to New Jersey. Take I-295 North to Exit 26. Follow the directions from New York and Northern New Jersey.

By plane

The nearest major airport is the Philadelphia International Airport, which is about 20 minutes away. From the airport, you may either take a cab (which will be costly), or use public transportation. By train, take the SEPTA R1 Airport Line to the Market East Station, then walk five blocks to the 8th and Market PATCO station. From there, take the PATCO Hi-Speed Line into Camden.

By train

The PATCO Hi-Speed Line[1] is a heavy rail line that operates between Center City Philadelphia and Camden County, New Jersey. The train operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fares are determined by distance traveled.

The River LINE[2] is a light rail line that operates between Trenton and Camden. Trains run every 15 minutes during rush hour, every half hour at other times. Trains run until roughly 1am on Saturday and midnight on other days.

By boat

The RiverLink Ferry[3] runs between Penn's Landing in Center City Philadelphia and the Camden waterfront. Boats run hourly between the two points. Express service to the Susquehanna Bank Center is available when events are held there, and ferries run until 30 minutes after the event ends.

Get around

By car

This is the easiest way to get around Camden. There is ample parking in the waterfront area.

By RiverLine

A train that you can use for travelling the downtown and riverfront areas.

By RiverLink ferry

Goes between the Adventure Aquarium and Tweeter Center
1-215-925-LINK

By foot

Most of the worthwhile attractions in Camden are clustered in the Riverfront and Rutgers areas, so walking is an option.

Buy

Eat

Drink

The vast majority of drinking establishments in Camden are dive bars and may not be safe. It is recommended to go into Philadelphia for the bar scene.

Sleep

There are no major hotels in Camden. Most visitors find accommodations in Philadelphia or in outlying towns, such as Cherry Hill.

Stay Safe

While Camden is getting better safety-wise, it is still one of the most crime-ridden cities in the United States. It is advised not to wander past the riverfront and Rutgers areas.

Get out

The historical, large city of Philadelphia is right across the river from Camden. Just take the Ben Franklin bridge or the PATCO high-speed line to get into Philadelphia.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!